barney 2001

miss beazley 2005

Michael received the commission to paint Barney, the First Dog on September 10, 2001 - the day before 9-11. The reference materials with photos of Barney actually arrived at Michael's studio on September 11th as the planes were crashing into the buildings in New York. Determined to not give in to the terror - Michael started painting the painting late in the night of September 11th. The painting was presented to First Lady Laura Bush in late 2001. In the summer of 2005 Michael received the commission to paint the President and First Lady's new dog, Miss Beazley.

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The paintings of Barney and Miss Beazley hung in First Lady Laura Bush's office in the east wing of The White House throughout her White House years. One on each side of her desk - across her office from an Andrew Wyeth painting.